There are hundreds of children in the Minnesota Waiting Children's Program and across the country that need an adoptive family.

Children who are available for adoption come from throughout the United States, and almost all of them have been removed from their biological families due to abuse or neglect. Most of these children are school-aged, some have physical or mental or emotional disabilities, some are brothers and sisters who want to stay together, and many are children of color.

These children need families who can be a healing resource for them. They need adults who can accept them as they are and provide a safe and nurturing place where they can learn to live with their past and anticipate their future.

Pine County Health and Human Services assists families who reside in Pine County who want to adopt one or more of these children. A home study is completed on the family by a private adoption agency or a county social worker. The family is then put on the adoption registry as a family who would like to adopt.

There is no fee for adoption services for families that consider adopting these children.

Adoption assistance may be available for the child's maintenance and medical needs.

Additional Information

The Public/Private Adoption Initiative (PPAI) is a partnership among the Minnesota Department of Human Services, county social service agencies and licensed private adoption agencies to place children under Minnesota state guardianship in permanent homes with adoptive families. The State has contracted with private adoption agencies that work with county social service agencies to enhance existing adoption resources.

For More Information

If you are interested in adopting a special needs child, please contact Pine County Health and Human Services at 320-591-1570 or 1-800-450-7463 ext 1570 and ask to speak to the intake worker. Or, you can contact any of the agencies in the PPAI.

Step Parent Adoptions

Families filing there own step parent adoption petitions with the court or their attorney can call 320-591-1570 or 1-800-450-7463 ext 1570 to request the fingerprint based background study required by law.